Backpressure-inhibiting device for exhausting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exhausting apparatus includes a duct defining an exhaust channel having an inlet and an outlet, a first fan mounted in the duct, and a first backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the duct and located in front of the first fan. The first backpressure-inhibiting device includes a partitioning plate having a plurality of through-holes. A negative pressure area is created between the first backpressure-inhibiting device and the first fan when the first fan is driven. Waste gas exhausting efficiency of the exhausting apparatus is enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backpressure-inhibiting device for an exhausting apparatus. The present invention also relates to an exhausting apparatus with such a backpressure-inhibiting device.

2. Description of the Related Art

An exhausting device is generally used to exhaust waste gas such as oily smoke in a space such as a kitchen. A typical exhausting device includes a duct and a fan driven by a motor. The duct has an inlet in a space and an outlet in communication with outside. Waste gas in the space can be exhausted to the outside by a pressure difference generated in the duct during operation of the fan. However, the operational efficiency of the conventional exhausting device is unsatisfactory due to backpressure. More specifically, a bouncing pressure is generated when airflow in the duct impacts upon a peripheral wall of the duct. In a case that the backpressure is greater than the pressure of the ascending currents to be exhausted, the ascending currents turn into turbulence and, thus, cannot be exhausted as expected. Hence, the resultant exhausting efficiency is unsatisfactory and gas poisoning sometimes occurs.

A filter or purifying device is generally mounted in the outlet section of the duct for filtering waste gas such as oily smoke. This filter or purifying device is mounted behind the fan and located on a wind-facing side with respect to the airflow sucked into the duct by the fan, forming a positive pressure that hinders discharge of the waste gas. Namely, the ascending currents cannot flow smoothly toward the inlet of he duct, leading to undesired separation of the oily smoke in addition to hindrance to the discharge of the waste gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an exhausting apparatus comprises a duct defining an exhaust channel including an inlet and an outlet, a first fan mounted in the duct and adapted to be driven, and a first backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the duct and located in front of the first fan. The first backpressure-inhibiting device includes a partitioning plate having a plurality of through-holes. A negative pressure area is created between the first backpressure-inhibiting device and the first fan when the first fan is driven. Waste gas exhausting efficiency of the exhausting apparatus is enhanced.

Preferably, the first backpressure-inhibiting device includes a plurality of tubes respectively extending through and securely engaged in the through-holes.

In an example, each tube is integral with the partitioning plate and extends from an inner face of the partitioning plate.

Preferably, the backpressure-inhibiting device is mounted in the inlet of the duct.

Preferably, an inlet section is defined between the first fan and the inlet, and the first backpressure-inhibiting device is mounted in the inlet section.

Preferably, the exhaust channel of the duct further includes an outlet section adjacent to the outlet. The exhausting apparatus further includes a second fan mounted in the outlet section and a second backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the outlet section and located in front of the second fan. A second negative pressure is created between the second fan and the second backpressure-inhibiting device when the second fan is driven to turn. The waste gas exhausting efficiency is further enhanced.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, an exhausting apparatus comprises a hood including a gas inlet, an opening defined below the hood, a fan mounted in the hood and adapted to be driven, and a backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the opening. The backpressure-inhibiting device includes a partitioning plate having a plurality of through-holes. A negative pressure area is created between the gas inlet and the opening when the fan is driven. Waste gas exhausting efficiency of the exhausting apparatus is enhanced.

Preferably, the backpressure-inhibiting device further includes a plurality of tubes respectively extending through and securely engaged in the through-holes.

In an example, each tube is integral with the partitioning plate and extends from an inner face of the partitioning plate.

Preferably, each tube includes a longitudinal hole defining a passage for waste gas to be discharged.

Preferably, the hood includes two side boards and a bottom board between the side boards, and the partitioning plate is mounted to the bottom board and below the gas inlet.

In an example, the partitioning plate covers the opening.

In another example, the partitioning plate is arcuate in section.

Preferably, the exhausting apparatus further includes an exhaust duct. A filter is mounted in the exhaust duct and includes a plurality of filtering members. Each filtering member includes a hollow casing and a plurality of through-holes in a spherical wall of the hollow casing.

Preferably, each filtering member further includes a plurality of tubes respectively extending into an interior of the hollow casing.

Preferably, each filtering member is a hollow spherical casing.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a backpressure-inhibiting device for an exhausting apparatus is mounted in a duct of the exhausting apparatus. The backpressure-inhibiting device comprises a partitioning plate and a plurality of through-holes. A tube extends through each through-hole, allowing waste gas to be exhausted to flow therethrough.

Other objectives, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an example of an exhausting apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a backpressure-inhibiting device of the exhausting apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another example of the exhausting apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating use of the backpressure-inhibiting device of FIG. 1 in an exhausting apparatus for discharging oily smoke.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the exhausting apparatus in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a filtering member of a filter in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating use of another example of the backpressure-inhibiting device in an exhausting apparatus for discharging oily smoke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of an exhausting apparatus 2 in accordance with the present invention comprises a duct 21, a fan 23, and a backpressure-inhibiting device 22. The duct 21 includes an inlet 211 and an outlet 212 and defines an exhaust channel allowing discharge of waste gas from a space. The fan 23 is mounted in the duct 21. In this example, the fan 23 is located adjacent to the inlet 211, with an inlet section 213 defined between the fan 23 and the inlet 211 for guiding waste gas into the duct 21. The fan 23 may be driven by a driving device such as a motor (not shown).

The backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is mounted in the duct 21 and located in front of the fan 23. In this example, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is mounted in the inlet 211 of the duct 21. Alternatively, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is located in the inlet section 213. With reference to FIG. 2, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 includes a partitioning plate 221 with a plurality of through-holes 223 and a plurality of tubes 222 respectively engaged in the through-holes 223. In this example, each tube 22 is integral with the partitioning plate 221 and extends from an inner face of the partitioning plate 221. In an alternative example, each tube 22 is coupled to the inner face of the partitioning plate 22 by insertion.

In the exhausting apparatus 2 in accordance with the present invention, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is mounted in the inlet 211 of the duct 21 to form a boundary that separates the inlet section 213 of the duct 21 from an environment outside the inlet 211. When the fan 23 turns, the through-holes 223 or the holes (not labeled) of the tubes 222 act as nozzles such that the sucking force of the fan 23 creates strong, dynamic currents, thereby forming a negative pressure area 4 in the inlet section 213 between the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 and the fan 23. Hence, the ascending currents 24 to be discharged flow smoothly into the duct 21. Furthermore, when the ascending currents 24 that have entered the duct 21 impact upon a peripheral wall at a bend 215 of the duct 21 and, thus, create bouncing currents with a backpressure, this backpressure is stopped by the boundary formed by the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 and forced to move forward by the strong, dynamic currents, thereby enhancing the waste gas (such as oily smoke) exhausting efficiency of the exhausting apparatus 2.

With reference to FIG. 3, in another example of the exhausting apparatus 2 in accordance with the present invention, the partitioning plate 221 of the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is arcuate in section. Nevertheless, the partitioning plate 221 is not limited to the examples illustrated.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the exhausting apparatus 2 includes two fans 23 respectively behind two backpressure-inhibiting devices 22. The front fan 23 and the front backpressure-inhibiting device 22 are located in the inlet section 213 whereas the rear fan 23 and the rear backpressure-inhibiting device 22 are located in the outlet section 214 adjacent to the outlet 212 of the duct 21. By such an arrangement, the waste gas (such as oily smoke) exhausting efficiency of the exhausting apparatus 2 is further enhanced by creating another negative pressure area between the fan 23 and the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 mounted in the outlet section 214.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 in an exhausting apparatus for discharging oily smoke. In this example, the exhausting apparatus is an oily smoke exhausting apparatus 3 having a filter 1 mounted in an outlet section.

With reference to FIG. 5, the oily smoke exhausting apparatus 3 includes a hood having a top board 31, a back board 32, and two side boards (not labeled), forming a housing with a downwardly facing opening, with a concave bottom board 34 mounted between the side boards. Hence, the downwardly facing opening forms a guiding space 35 for guiding ascending currents (such as oily smoke 3) generated during cooking.

A gas chamber 36 is defined in the hood and receives at least one fan 37 driven by a motor 38. A gas inlet 361 is defined in a lower portion of the gas chamber 36 and a gas outlet 362 is defined in an upper portion of the gas chamber 36 and in communication with outside. When the fan 37 turns, the ascending currents (oily smoke 5 and steam) generated during cooking are sucked into the gas chamber 36 via the gas inlet 361 and then discharged to the outside via an exhaust duct 39. In this example, the bottom board 34 includes a protrusion 341 extending into the gas chamber 36 and located under the fan 37, with the protrusion 341 including a hole defining the gas inlet 361.

The filter 1 is mounted in the outlet section of an exhaust duct 39 of the oily smoke exhausting apparatus 3. The filter 1 includes a tubular body 11 and a plurality of filtering members 12 mounted in the tubular body 11. The tubular body 11 includes an oily smoke inlet 111 and an oily smoke outlet 112 located in appropriate positions of the exhaust duct 39. With reference to FIG. 6, each filtering member 12 includes at least one hollow casing 121 and a plurality of tubes 122 of a length and extending into the hollow casing 121. The hollow casing 121 may be spherical, cubic, or polyhedral. In the illustrated example, the hollow casing 121 is a hollow spherical casing made of plastic material, with a plurality of through-holes 123 defined in a spherical wall of the hollow spherical casing. Each tube 122 has a longitudinal hole 124 and a flange 125 on an end thereof. The flange 125 has an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the through-hole 123 such that each tube 122 can be extended through the associated through-hole 123 into an interior of the hollow casing 121. Hence, the tubes 12 can be securely assembled to the hollow casing 121. In an alternative example, each tube 122 is integral with the hollow casing 121 and extends inward from an associated through-hole 123.

In this example, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 is mounted in the opening in the lower portion (i.e., inlet section) of the hood. The backpressure-inhibiting device 22 includes a partitioning plate 221 for creating a negative pressure area 4 below the gas inlet 361. When the fan 37 turns, the negative pressure area 4 has a pressure lower than that in the gas chamber 36. In an alternative example shown in FIG. 7, the partitioning plate 221 is arcuate in section, and the number of the through-holes 222 can be increased to enhance the suction effect. In another example shown in FIG. 8, the partitioning plate 221 is mounted to a bottom of the bottom board 34 between the side boards, providing a larger area. Hence, a negative pressure area 4 having a pressure lower than that in the gas chamber 36 is created in the guiding space 35 below the gas inlet 361. Preferably, the partitioning plate 221 covers the opening below the hood.

The partitioning plate 221 includes a plurality of through-holes 223 providing gas channels for currents. In this example, a plurality of tubes 222 respectively extend through the through-holes 223 into an inner side of the partitioning plate 221. In this example, the tubes 222 are integral with the partitioning plate 221 and extends inward from an inner face of the partitioning plate 221. In an alternative example, each tube 222 has a structure similar to the tube 122 in FIG. 6. More specifically, each tube 222 has a through-hole and extends through the partitioning plate 221 to the inner side of the partitioning plate 221.

With reference to FIG. 4 that illustrates discharge of oily smoke of the oily smoke exhausting apparatus 3, when the fan 37 is driven by the motor 38, the oily smoke 5 or gas (or ascending currents) generated during cooking is gathered in the guiding space 35 below the hood and sucked into the gas chamber 36 via the gas inlet 361 and then discharged to the outside via the exhaust duct 39. The oily smoke 5 entering the exhaust duct 39 is guided through and filtered by the filtering members 12 of the filter 1. Namely, fats, oil, and/or impurities are adhered to the large inner surface areas of the hollow casings 121 and the outer walls of the tubes 122. Hence, the fats, oil, and/or impurities are filtered such that the oily smoke 5 can be purified before it is discharged via the outlet 391 to an underground ditch 6.

Furthermore, the backpressure-inhibiting device 22 creates a negative pressure area 4 below the gas inlet 361 such that the ascending currents generated during cooking flow smoothly toward the gas chamber 36 and the exhaust duct 39. Hence, the ascending currents will not stay in the guiding space 35 and form vortex nor will generate backflow. As a result, the oily smoke 5 is smoothly sucked into the gas chamber 36 via the gas inlet 361, enters the exhaust duct 39 and is filtered by the filter 1, and is then discharged to the outside.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. An exhausting apparatus comprising: a duct defining an exhaust channel including an inlet and an outlet; a first fan mounted in the duct and adapted to be driven; and a first backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the duct and located in front of the first fan, the first backpressure-inhibiting device including a partitioning plate having a plurality of through-holes; wherein a negative pressure area is created between the first backpressure-inhibiting device and the first fan when the first fan is driven.
 2. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with the first backpressure-inhibiting device further including a plurality of tubes respectively extending through and securely engaged in the through-holes.
 3. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, with each said tube being integral with the partitioning plate and extending from an inner face of the partitioning plate.
 4. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with the backpressure-inhibiting device being mounted in the inlet of the duct.
 5. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with an inlet section being defined between the first fan and the inlet, and with the first backpressure-inhibiting device being mounted in the inlet section.
 6. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, with the exhaust channel of the duct further including an outlet section adjacent to the outlet, with the exhausting apparatus further including a second fan mounted in the outlet section and a second backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the outlet section and located in front of the second fan, and with a second negative pressure being created between the second fan and the second backpressure-inhibiting device when the second fan is driven to turn.
 7. An exhausting apparatus comprising: a hood including a gas inlet, an opening being defined below the hood; a fan mounted in the hood and adapted to be driven; and a backpressure-inhibiting device mounted in the opening, the backpressure-inhibiting device including a partitioning plate having a plurality of through-holes; wherein a negative pressure area is created between the gas inlet and the opening when the fan is driven.
 8. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, with the backpressure-inhibiting device further including a plurality of tubes respectively extending through and securely engaged in the through-holes.
 9. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, with each said tube being integral with the partitioning plate and extending from an inner face of the partitioning plate.
 10. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, with each said tube including a longitudinal hole defining a passage for waste gas to be discharged.
 11. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, with the hood including two side boards and a bottom board between the side boards, and with the partitioning plate being mounted to the bottom board and below the gas inlet.
 12. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, with the partitioning plate covering the opening.
 13. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, with the partitioning plate being arcuate in section.
 14. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, with the exhausting apparatus further including an exhaust duct, with a filter being mounted in the exhaust duct and including a plurality of filtering members, each said filtering member including a hollow casing and a plurality of through-holes in a spherical wall of the hollow casing.
 15. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, with each said filtering member further including a plurality of tubes respectively extending into an interior of the hollow casing.
 16. The exhausting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, with each said filtering member being a hollow spherical casing.
 17. A backpressure-inhibiting device for an exhausting apparatus, the backpressure-inhibiting device being adapted to be mounted in a duct of the exhausting apparatus, the backpressure-inhibiting device comprising a partitioning plate and a plurality of through-holes, with a tube extending through each said through-hole, allowing waste gas to be exhausted to flow therethrough.
 18. The backpressure-inhibiting device as claimed in claim 17, with each said tube extending to an inner side of the backpressure-inhibiting device.
 19. The backpressure-inhibiting device as claimed in claim 17, with each said tube including a longitudinal hole defining a passage for the waste gas to be discharged.
 20. The backpressure-inhibiting device as claimed in claim 17, with the partitioning plate being arcuate in section. 